Road traffic injuries are one of the main causes of personal injury and death globally, and auto accidents can leave heavy consequences on drivers. There are several causes of car accidents, and most of them can be eliminated easily. Here are some of the most common causes:
Distracted Driving:
Distracted driving is anything that can take focus away from the road and, therefore, it is wrong. Examples are using a phone, typing, using a computer, or eating. Distraction is considered as a major and leading cause of the accidents.
Speeding:
Exceeding the set speed level or speeding beyond the appropriate limits on the road is likely to cause an accident. Accelerating brings the response time down and makes it challenging for a driver to steady the car.
Driving Under the Influence:
Operating a vehicle while being inebriated by alcohol, under the influence of drugs, or with some kind of medication makes a person lose his or her ability to reason, to react quickly and to stay balanced on the steering wheel. This can lead to accidents.
Weather Conditions:
This is because some weathers like rain, fogs, or ice on the road make it difficult to drive and cause likely hood of an accident.
Reckless Driving:
Examples of reckless driving are; driving close to the vehicle ahead, rapid lane changing, or running of the red light. Such a style of driving is reckless and poses a high risk of propensity of an accident occurring.
Vehicle Malfunctions:
Some car problems like faulty brakes, tired wheels and belts, and a host of others can cause accidents to happen. Avoiding these types of accidents require you to have your vehicle serviced regularly and properly maintained.
What to Do in a Car Accident
It is also important to be aware of the following steps as they go a long way in protecting your legal rights and not forgetting your safety. Follow these steps:
Ensure Safety:
First you need to make sure that all the involved parties are alright you are involved in an accident. If there is a need, get out of the area and assess those who may have been injured.
Call the Police:
Alcohol has to be reported to the police, especially if there are some people with injuries, some cars have been damaged, or if there is a suspicion that a driver is drunk.
Document the Scene:
Photograph of the accident scene, the damages on both vehicles and any other related factors. Get details from other drivers and/or witnesses and obtain their contact particulars.
Seek Medical Attention:
When you get a chance, it’s also important to go to a healthcare facility even if the injury is not visible. In this case, the injuries could be latent and constantly increase in severity without showing any signs from their initial stage.
Notify Your Insurance Company:
Open the phone and dial the number provided by your insurance company and report the accident. Being truthful is important as well as giving the right information.
Consult a Car Accident Lawyer:
It might be useful to seek the services of a car accident lawyer if you don’t know who to turn to in case of a car accident.
Common Types of Car Accidents
Car accidents can be different – their intensity and the circumstances of their occurrence can be different. Here are some of the most common ones:
Rear-End Collisions:
These happen when a vehicle driving ahead suddenly collides with another vehicle from the rear. Such an accident is common with drivers who tailgate or those who are distracted on the road.
Side-Impact Collisions:
They are also known as T-bone accidents and these are caused by the side-on-side collision between two cars. This can occur if a driver ignores a red light or during the period that another driver is supposed to turn but does not check for any incoming car.
Head-On Collisions:
These are some of the worst road mishaps, whereby the front part of two motor vehicles come into contact. These usually happen on roads especially those with weak or missing lane dividers; or when a car has moved to traffic going in the opposite direction.
Single-Vehicle Accidents:
These are single car incidents and are usually as a result of mechanical failure or human error. This may range from running off the road and colliding with another vehicle or object that is not in motion.
Multi-Vehicle Pileups:
They occur in extreme weather conditions, on interstates or Freeways, and when one driver tries to overtake the other or tailgating.
Preventing Car Accidents
Even though not all accidents can be prevented the occurrence of many accidents can be prevented to a very large extent by exercising a lot more care while on the road. Here are some tips to stay safe:
- Avoid Distractions: Keep your hands off the phone, do not switch radio stations or even fiddle with any controls on the car.
- Follow Speed Limits: Compliance with the speed limit provides ample opportunity to act, better control, and minimize the risk if there is an accident.
- Maintain Your Vehicle: Vehicles require regular services to reduce times when they can develop mechanical issues that lead to more accidents.
- Adjust to Weather Conditions: Lower speeds, more distance to the vehicle ahead, and pay great attention to roads during unfavorable weather conditions.
- Wear a Seatbelt: Wear a seatbelt every time and check that all passengers do the same. Mountain climbers know that a safety harness can prevent a deadly fall, even if the rope has a fatal slip.
- Never Drive Impaired: Do not drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs and some medications that decrease your ability to drive safely.
The Impact of Car Accidents
Car accidents have far-reaching effects, including:
Physical Injuries:
Carnage injuries include simple soft tissue injury to head injury or sometimes even death due to car crashes. Quite often, even a simple collision may result in whiplash or some other injury that may not be observed right away.
Emotional Trauma:
The psychological effects of a car accident may include shock, fear, depression or the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Financial Losses:
Consequences of an auto accident may include; Extensive medical expenses, property damage, and costs incurred due to loss of wages resulting from missed working days.
Legal Complications:
Car accidents entail matters relating to lawsuits, insurance and compensation. This often becomes very stressful and complicated, most especially when there are severe injuries or even death.
How to Select the Best Car Accident Lawyer
Of course, if you decide to go through all the trouble of finding an attorney to represent you in court, it would be wise to find an attorney whose practice focuses on car accident cases. Here are some factors to consider:
- Experience: To find a good attorney, search for an attorney who has experience dealing with car accident cases and the results won by the attorney.
- Reputation: It is important to search the attorney on the internet and read customer feedback and recommendations from lawyers association.
- Communication: Select an attorney that can easily be approached and whom responds as well as clarifies the legal steps and available options.
- Fees: You should know what the attorney charges, whether it is a fixed charge, charge per service hour or proportion of the final amount the client manages to acquire.
- Comfort level: Always select an attorney that you can easily work with since you will be partnering with them through out the case.
Conclusion
Road accidents are especially hazardous because they affect both the body and the individual’s state of mind. Understanding the common causes, recognizing what should be done when an accident has occurred, avoiding these accidents, and selecting the appropriate lawyer will help to rise to the occasion of a car accident. Safe driving and correct behavior on the roads reduces the risk of an accident and thus save lives.
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